Hester, a running back picked in the third round, and Tribble, a
cornerback chosen in the sixth round, both agreed to four-year
contracts.

"We're happy with everything," general manager A.J. Smith said.
"We're down to one -- our first-rounder."

Smith said negotiations with Cason are progressing well, adding
that he'll likely be signed to a five-year contract. Cason, a
cornerback from Arizona, was chosen 27th overall in April's
draft.

Rookies are scheduled to report to training camp Sunday night
and hit the field Monday morning. Smith hopes that Cason will be in
the fold when Monday's practice begins.

"It's important to have all your draft picks in," Smith said.
"That's what we all like. It makes a whole lot of sense.

"If they're there day one, they get with their team and they go
to work. However, it doesn't always work that way. It's a business,
and people have to look at some things."

Cason's agent, Ron Slavin, said via e-mail Friday that there's
"no news to report." Cason, meanwhile, has been attempting to keep
his focus on football, not the business side of the game.

"I haven't been thinking too much about it," Cason said Friday
night. "I've been thinking about the things I can control, which is
keeping in shape and working out every day and keeping the mind-set
that I'm ready to play.

"It would be good to be there (on time), but I've been working
on the things I can control. It would be good to get in. That's
what I'm here for."

As for Hester, his on-time arrival is important because the
Chargers are asking him to know both the tailback and fullback
positions. Hester played both positions at LSU and rushed for 1,103
yards and 12 touchdowns last season. The Chargers picked him in the
third round after trading their 2008 fifth-round pick and next
year's second-round pick to New England for the Patriots'
third-round choice.

Tribble attended Boston College and finished his career third on
the Eagles' all-time interceptions list with 15. He'll be in the
running for a backup cornerback job or a spot on the team's
practice squad.

Obviously, Tribble won't be the cornerback under the spotlight
once training camp begins. The Chargers hope Cason can be a
reliable third cornerback as a rookie after Drayton Florence signed
with Jacksonville as a free agent.

Cason was one of five cornerbacks chosen in the first round of
the draft, and none of the other four has reached terms. In fact,
not a single defensive player selected in the first round has
signed a deal.

The five first-round picks who have signed contracts as of
Friday evening all play offense: Miami offensive tackle Jake Long,
Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan, Oakland running back Darren
McFadden, Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco and New York Jets tight
end Dustin Keller.

Some agents are reluctant to be the first to get a player signed
if there are other players at the same position who were selected
in close proximity in the round to their client. Smith said those
situations don't affect how the Chargers conduct their
business.